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鱺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鱺líeelzg, 30 strokes, radical 魚
lí(li2) T2
  1. 1eel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鱺lí(li2)

The character 鱺 (lí) refers specifically to eel, a type of elongated fish often found in both freshwater and saltwater. Eels are commonly used in various cuisines, especially in Asian dishes, where they are valued for their rich flavor and texture. The term can also imply a sense of delicacy or a unique culinary experience.

Strokes30Radical魚
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, eel is a popular dish, especially in summer, due to its believed health benefits. It is often featured in traditional summer dishes, highlighting its cultural significance in Chinese food practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine an eel swimming gracefully in the water. The character 鱺 has the radical 魚 (fish) on the left, reminding you that this word relates to aquatic life. The pronunciation, 'lí', sounds like 'lee', so picture a 'Lee' who loves to catch eels.

Meanings of 鱺

lí(li2)
1eel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鱺

鱺Simplified
30Strokes
魚Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鱺

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Podcast: 鱺

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AI Study Notes for 鱺

Quick Contrast

鳗 (mán) refers specifically to eel as well, but is often used to denote a different species or preparation style; 鱺 (lí) may imply a broader culinary context.

Usage Notes

Eel is often used in culinary contexts, so it's important to know this term when discussing food. Common phrases include 鱺鱼 (lí yú - eel fish) or 烤鱺 (kǎo lí - grilled eel). Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing 'lí' with the wrong tone can confuse it with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鱺 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be related to aquatic life terms often studied around HSK Level 3. Focus on remembering the radical for fish (魚) and practice using it in different contexts related to food.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 鱺 with other fish terms, such as 鱼 (yú - fish) which is more general. Ensure that you use 鱺 specifically when referring to eel to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鱺

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Etymology of 鱺

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)魚
+
Phonetic (sound)麗
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鱺

  1. 1The meaning half魚 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half麗 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鱺? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鱺?

Decomposition of 鱺

IDS Structure⿰魚麗
鱺Full Character
=
魚yu2
left
麗li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鱺?

How to say eel in Chinese

“eel” in Chinese is鱺lí

The character 鱺 (lí) refers specifically to eel, a type of elongated fish often found in both freshwater and saltwater. Eels are commonly used in various cuisines, especially in Asian dishes, where they are valued for their rich flavor and texture. The term can also imply a sense of delicacy or a unique culinary experience.

When to use 鱺

Eel is often used in culinary contexts, so it's important to know this term when discussing food. Common phrases include 鱺鱼 (lí yú - eel fish) or 烤鱺 (kǎo lí - grilled eel). Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing 'lí' with the wrong tone can confuse it with other words.

鱺 or something close to it

鳗 (mán) refers specifically to eel as well, but is often used to denote a different species or preparation style; 鱺 (lí) may imply a broader culinary context.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 鱺 with other fish terms, such as 鱼 (yú - fish) which is more general. Ensure that you use 鱺 specifically when referring to eel to avoid confusion.

Write 鱺

鱺

Practice writing 鱺 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鱺

Words Containing This Character2
鳗鲡eel鰻鱺
鲡líeel鱺
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鳗鲡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鱺

You would say '烤鱺' (kǎo lí).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鱺?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.